Internet explodes as actor Timothée Chalamet says choosing a childless life seems 'bleak'

A comment made in a recent interview by actor Timothée Chalamet is causing controversy on the internet. During a conversation with Vogue, Chalamet shared his personal opinion that choosing to live a life without children seems "bleak." And because the world today is perpetually offended, several individuals let Chalamet know that they feel he has no right to even speak on the matter.

Key Takeaways:

• In an interview with Vogue, actor Timothée Chalamet said he believes the idea of choosing not to have children to have more time for other pursuits seems "bleak."

• Vogue said that Chalamet believes "procreation is the reason we're here."

• Chalamet received heavy criticism for his comments, mostly from people who believe a man has no right to speak about wanting children, those who believe he is 'privileged' and therefore shouldn't speak on the matter, and those who believe abortion is a right.

The Details:

Chalamet, 29, who has been in a relationship with 28-year-old Kylie Jenner (a mom of two with her ex), recalled to Vogue that he was with a friend watching an unnamed individual's interview, and that person was "bragging about not having kids and how much time it afforded them to do other stuff." He said he and his friend were shocked, and they turned to each other "like, holy s**t. Oh my God. Bleak."

According to Vogue, Chalamet added that, while he knows not everyone can have children, he believes "procreation is the reason we're here" and said that children "could be on the radar" for his future.

But his opinion that forgoing children for other self pursuits sounds "bleak" set off a firestorm of negative comments online.

Reactions ranged from anger that the words were coming from a man — because, apparently, men aren't allowed to say they think life would be "bleak" without children — to annoyance, because Chalamet is 'privileged.'

The comments, however, starkly revealed decades of propaganda fed to three generations of women who now believe career is more fulfilling than children, couples who think they must have a lot of money to have a child, and a society that thinks only women can express opinions on pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children.

As reported by BuzzFeed, one commenter on Reddit said, "Easy sentiment to hold when you're not the one cranking the baby out of your own body."

Another said, "If I were a man and didn't have to actually birth children myself, the thought of having children would be a much easier decision."

Others claimed Chalamet's "privilege" was showing. "And being privileged enough that having a baby doesn't consume all of your time and money. Such a gross take," said one.

Another wrote, "Easy sentiment when you don't have to worry about the world you're bringing children into because you are protected by your privilege, fame, and wealth."

Yet another said, "I would probably want kids if I were a man! Instead, as a woman who doesn't want kids, I get to have men who've never changed a f***ing nappy or bathed a wailing toddler act superior towards me because they want someone to give birth to a kid for them.”

Others considered his comments to be "nightmarish" and "close-minded."

One woman said if it weren't for the act of childbirth, she would have kids. "If I just got to do the fun part without the giving birth part, I'd have multiple kids, lol," she wrote.

And another person said Chalamet shouldn't be making such comments following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. "Describing choosing not to have kids as 'bleak,' especially when women's rights to choose not to have kids are being taken away is a bad take, to say the least," the comment read.

Many commenters felt Chalamet was referring to actor Seth Rogan's previous comment in an interview with Esquire, where he said he and his wife don't want children. "Honestly, thank God we don't have children. We get to do whatever we want," Rogen said.

As in Chalamet's case, those offended voiced their thoughts, and Rogen faced backlash for what people considered to be selfish comments.

Commentary:

Chalamet's remarks were based on his own opinion that, for him, a life without kids seems "bleak."

Claiming that because he is a man means he doesn't get to speak on the issue is simply ridiculous. Both women and men are impacted by the children they conceive; they are both impacted by the pain of infertility. Once upon a time, men who looked forward to becoming fathers were the kinds of men sought out by women. Today, women who loathe the idea of giving birth to children feel the kind of man who desires fatherhood is a threat.

As for being too 'privileged' to speak about how he thinks procreation is the reason we are here, there is no reason to believe that he would not want children if he were less wealthy or famous. Plenty of men enjoy being fathers while they work regular, everyday jobs.

The idea that a person or couple must be of a certain financial or social status to have children is false. Pro-abortion propaganda has told Americans that if they get pregnant on a lower income, killing that preborn baby is the right thing to do. The false idea that financial and career success must come before children has left countless couples struggling later in life to realize their dream of parenthood.

Finally, the claim that "women's right to choose not to have kids are being taken away" is misleading. Every woman has the right to choose whether or not to have children. But they do not have the right — and should not have the choice — to kill children who already exist. And yes, children in the womb are real children and they do exist; it's the definition of pregnancy, after all.

Preborn babies, at every stage, are unique human beings whose journeys have only begun. Killing them for convenience or to 'do whatever you want' is a grave injustice.

The Bottom Line:

The majority of men who aren't afraid to commit to marriage and who desire fatherhood aren't men to be feared, nor are they wishing for women to become subservient to them. They might just actually be men who value real love and family.

These kinds of men may be rare in today's world, but that certainly doesn't make them wrong.